US Condemns Iran’s ‘Reckless’ Missile Strikes in Northern Iraq

The United States has criticized Iran for its ballistic missile attacks near the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, describing them as “reckless and imprecise strikes.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted Israeli “spy headquarters” in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. The attack resulted in four deaths and six injuries, according to the Kurdistan Region Security Council.

Iraq condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty, and Israel has not yet commented on the Iranian claims. Additionally, Kurdistan authorities reported shooting down three armed drones over Irbil airport, where US and international forces are stationed.

The Iranian strikes occurred amid escalating tensions in the region, linked to the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The US expressed support for Iraq’s sovereignty and stated that no US personnel or facilities were targeted in the attacks.

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards justified the strikes as a response to alleged Israeli atrocities, destroying what they claimed to be a Mossad espionage headquarters. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government condemned the attack, labeling it a “crime against the Kurdish people.”

The Revolutionary Guards also reported targeting Islamic State (IS) group positions in Syria, citing retaliation for a suicide bombing earlier in the month that marked the anniversary of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani’s assassination by the US. The Syria strikes resulted in explosions in Aleppo and its countryside.